Chu Junyi tightened his embrace around the restless girl. Staring into the pitch - black night, he relished the wonderful feeling of having her in his arms.
If he told the Emperor that Princess Yuanyang had gone to the South of the Yangtze River for him, would it be better?
Oh—this would just prove what Princess Fourteen had said, that there was an affair between them. It would be harmful to Princess Yuanyang's reputation.
Then there was only one other way: to ask for an imperial marriage.
If he remembered correctly, Miss Mu Rongjia still had an imperial grace that she hadn't used. He wondered if he could ask for it.
With the grace, he could beg the Emperor for an imperial marriage. Then Her Highness the Princess wouldn't have to be imprisoned in the Princess Mansion anymore.
It was just that she could never be the lofty princess again.
Well! What did it matter if she couldn't be a princess? It would be good enough to be Mrs. Chu.
Thinking of the words "Mrs. Chu", he happily hugged her tighter, wishing she were already his wife.
Li Xinyue waited for him for a while. When he didn't speak, she gently said,
"Chu Junyi, I'm afraid I can't fulfill our promise. If Father Emperor imprisons me forever, I won't be able to give you anything. Princess Yuanyang can no longer take care of Lord Chu. Lord Chu, take good care of yourself."
"Has Her Highness the Princess given up? Where is the bright, charming and valiant Princess Yuanyang? Is she so easily defeated?"
Li Xinyue kept silent. She had given up. So what? Wasn't she allowed to?
She just felt so sad!
She couldn't get up!
Do whatever you want!
His long fingers hooked under her chin and gently pinched it. A kiss suddenly landed on her lips.
He kissed her, lingering and tender. His big palm gently roamed on her back, but it was like setting a fire along the way.
Li Xinyue's heart skipped a beat. She tried to push him away, but he hugged her even tighter, kissed her deeper, and his roaming palm became even hotter.
Her phoenix - like eyes closed gently. The tears hanging on her long eyelashes rolled down along his nose bridge and onto hers.
Shock surged through her heart like a huge wave.
Was Chu Junyi...
Crying?
Was he crying for her?
"Kiss me back," his magnetic and slightly hoarse voice, full of eagerness, made a request in her ear.
Li Xinyue blushed with shame and refused no matter what.
Chu Junyi lowered his eyes and smiled faintly, breathing gently, "You've already agreed to be with me. So shouldn't we do something that lovers do? Hurry up."
"Chu Junyi! I'm in a bad mood because I've been deposed. Don't make excessive demands."
"If you don't kiss me, I have even more excessive demands. Guess what they are?"
Li Xinyue quickly covered his mouth.
This kiss instantly took her memory back to that night in the inn.
It seemed that she had kissed him like this, straddled him, said a lot of things, and even taken off her clothes.
But did she really take off her clothes?
Was she really that wild when drunk?
"You're distracted when I'm here. Who are you thinking about?"
The name "Mu Rongxiu" automatically popped into Chu Junyi's mind. Thinking of how she always called out someone else's name at crucial moments, he was so angry that he held the back of her head and kissed her deeply again. He didn't stop until she was dizzy, out of breath and kept begging for mercy. Then he finally let go of her lips with satisfaction.
"Do you know who I am now?"
"Yes, I know." She really hoped this moment would pass quickly.
"Who?"
"Chu Junyi."
"Who is Chu Junyi?"
"He is..." Li Xinyue knew what he wanted to hear, but she was so ashamed that her heart trembled. She just refused to say it. "How should I know!"
Chu Junyi lowered his head and smiled faintly. He pinched her chin and forced her to look at him.
His pupils were black and shiny. The light in them seemed to have a huge suction force that could suck her in.
She lowered her head shyly, but he pinched her chin again.
He leaned over and kissed her fair neck. Then he said hoarsely, whispering in her ear, "I'm the only one who can be with Your Highness in this way."
Li Xinyue felt a tightness in her scalp. A current ran through her whole body, and her bones were almost going limp.
"Does Your Highness remember?"
Li Xinyue didn't answer.
Chu Junyi was about to kiss her again. Li Xinyue was afraid of him. "I remember, I remember."
"So good." He still kissed her. He kissed Li Xinyue until she was dizzy and her mind went blank. Then he reluctantly let her go, but he didn't allow her to get up. She just lay on him while they talked.
"I wanted to come with Your Highness today. I wanted to share some of your burdens. But I was afraid that I would cause more trouble instead of helping, so I didn't come. I didn't expect that Your Highness would still get into trouble. If I had known this, I should have come." Chu Junyi said self - reproachfully.
"Better not. You would have caused more trouble. Li Xinrong noticed us at the Qionglin Banquet. If you had come, wouldn't it have confirmed what she said?
Besides, Mu Rongxiu also went. If I went for you, then Mu Rongxiu went for me. Would this sound good if it got out?
We can only let people assume that I went for the Fu family."
She went to the South of the Yangtze River for the Fu family, and Mu Rongxiu went for the Bai family. They just happened to meet and return to the capital together. In this way, no one would gossip about them.
"By the way, how did you get in?"
"The commander of the guards on duty is surnamed Xiao. He is the older brother of Vice - General Xiao who went to the South of the Yangtze River. They both served in Mu Rong's military camp."
Li Xinyue trembled in surprise. "So, Mu Rongxiu helped you?" She didn't know what to say. "Can you not trouble him next time! Don't you think it's too much?"
"I don't think so."
Li Xinyue, "..." Never mind!
Outside the wall of the Princess Mansion, a handsome and tall figure was quietly looking at the lake outside the mansion, speculating about what was going on inside.
The moonlight shone on the lake. The wind blew the water into layers, and the willows swayed gently.
Mu Rongxiu stood under a willow tree, looking at the lake. He never thought that he could be so generous. He really had the grace of a gentleman engraved in his bones.
He smiled self - deprecatingly, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.
A figure passed by in front. When the person noticed someone here, he subconsciously turned to look. He was surprised to find that there really was someone, and it was an acquaintance.
"Mr. Mu Rong."
Mu Rongxiu turned around and nodded slightly to the approaching girl.
Inside the mansion, when Chu Junyi heard the secret sentry, he reluctantly let go of his hands. He helped Li Xinyue up from his body. He couldn't help but stroke her head and then her face. He looked at her with a gentle and determined look in his eyes.
"Your Highness, wait for me. I will definitely find a way to rescue you."
Li Xinyue looked at his rarely serious face. She wanted to say that it was all in vain, but she couldn't bear to. So she just nodded.
Chu Junyi leaned over and gently kissed her forehead. Then he opened the door and went out. He seized the opportunity. When the two shifts of guards were changing and there was no one outside the garden, he leaped and flew out of the garden and out of the Princess Mansion.
At this time, the guard change was completed. The new guards firmly guarded the Mingyue Garden.
Just as Chu Junyi jumped out of the Princess Mansion, Mu Rongxiu also turned around. Their eyes met. Both of them wanted to say something, but they both hesitated.
Chu Junyi suddenly wanted to say, Why don't you go in too? Go and see her?
Then he thought again. He must be crazy to let his love rival in!
Mu Rongxiu wanted to say that since they couldn't be together openly, they shouldn't ruin her reputation.
But then he thought that he had no right to say these things. Forget it.
The two of them left in their respective directions.
The evening breeze blew gently, and the moonlight was bright. The night passed like this.